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Hawaiian Punch was created in 1934 by A.W. Leo, Tom Yates and Ralph Harrison as an ice cream topping in a converted garage in Fullerton, California, and customers later discovered that it made an appealing drink when mixed with water. They formed Pacific Hawaiian Products to produce the beverage.

In 1962, the Atherton-Privett ad agency created a 20-second commercial to advertise Hawaiian Punch drink. The commercial was produced by John Urie and Associates in Hollywood, Jean Guy Jacques was the director. Bob Guidi and John Urie designed the two characters, Punchy and Oaf. Ross Martin did Punchy's voice, "Hey! How 'bout a nice Hawaiian Punch?" and John Urie did Oaf's line, "Sure". Rod Scribner, animated the commercials. Sam Cornell also worked on the later versions. Oaf never learned to say "No" and he was always pounded to the ground. The commercial ended with Punchy leaning on a can of Hawaiian Punch, saying, "Wasn't that a refreshing commercial?" The commercial won many awards. After airing in February 1962 on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar, the Punchy commercial was so special that Jack Paar said "Let's play that again... the second time is free."